Elevator for outboard motor



May 28, 1963 o. c. HANSEN ELEVATOR FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Jan. 9, 1961FIGJ.

INVENTOR. OSCAR C. HANSEN FIG.3.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,091,211 ELEVATOR FOR OUTBO MSTOR OscarC. Hansen, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Ferro Stamping Company, Detroit,Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Jan. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,364 8Claims. (Cl. 115-41) The present invention relates to an elevator andrefers more specifically to a power operated, rack and pinion liftmechanism for an outboard motor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an outboard motorlift mechanism including a rack and pinion and power operated means forrotating the pinion, thereby moving the rack through an arcuate path soas to raise or lower the outboard motor as required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an outboard motorlift mechanism including a shaft having a worm gear and a pinionthereon, a movable rack connected on one end thereof to the outboardmotor, the teeth of said rack being in mesh with the teeth of thepinion, a worm in mesh with the worm gear, and power operated means forrotating the worm to effectively actuate the pinion and move the rackthrough an arcuate path to raise or lower the outboard motor out of orinto the water respectively.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an outboardelevator of the aforementioned type which includes means for holding therack in its extended position to hold the outboard motor out of thewater.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an outboardmotor lift mechanism of the aforementioned type which is controlled by aremote control provided in the bow of the boat.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anoutboard motor lift mechanism of the aforementioned type which isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, durable in construction andpositive in operation.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an outboard motor boat, partly insection.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the outboard mo- .tor lift mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken On line 33 of FIGURE 2 after the rackhas been extended, showing in particular the means for holding the rackin the extended position.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for use with a boathaving an outboard motor. The boat is designated in FIGURE 1 by thenumeral and includes at the rear end thereof a transom designated by thenumeral 12. A pivot connection 13 is provided between the outboard mootr14 and the mounting bracket 15 which supports the motor 14 on thetransom 12. Previously, the raising or lowering of the outboard motor 14about pivot 13 was accomplished manually. This required considerableeffort on the part of the person performing this operation.

More important, however the invention is particularly applicable whenmoving the boat 10 into and out of a slip or when shallow waters,stones, weeds or other hazardous obstructions are encountered. In orderto raise the outboard motor 14 from the water when certain of theaforesaid obstructions are encountered, remote control means, not shown,are provided in the bow or cockpit of the boat 10, along with thesteering control mechanism. When it is necessary to raise the outboardmotor 14, the remote control means is actuated by the operator toenergize the power operated lift mechanism 16 to be subsequentlydescribed so as to raise the outboard motor 14 out of the water. Such anoperation may be accomplished without the necessity of the operator ofthe boat having to go back to the stern of the boat at a time when theattention of the operator must be directed to steering and guiding theboat through the obstructions.

The present invention includes the power operated lift mechanism 16 forlifting or lowering the outboard motor 14 about pivot 13 with respect tothe boat 10 and includes a mounting bracket comprising a pair of plates17 and 18 which form a hollow rack enclosure as will be subsequentlydescribed. The bracket is provided with a flange 19 which is adapted tobe connected to the transom 12 by a plurality of bolts 29. The mountingbracket is of irregular contour and shape and includes an arcuate hollowrack housing 22.

A motor bracket 24 is connected to the mounting bracket by a pluralityof bolts 26. An electrically operated reversible motor 23 isappropriately connected to the motor bracket 24 and is adapted to rotatethe shaft 3% when the motor 28 is energized. The shaft 30 is connectedto the worm shaft 31 by means of a coupling 33. The worm shaft 31 has aworm 32 on the other end thereof which is in mesh with a worm gear 34.The worm gear 34 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 36 which has a pinion38 thereon.

As previously mentioned, the housing 22 is hollow with the interiorthereof having an arcuate shape. Mounted in the housing 22 is a rack 40which has a plurality of teeth 42 thereon. The rack 40 is adapted to bemoved through an arcuate path by the pinion 38 so as to raise or lowerthe outboard motor 14 about the pivot connection 13. An opening isprovided in the transom 12 through which the housing 22 extends for apredetermined distance beyond the outer wall of the transom 12.

The lift end of the rack 40 has a bumper 39 connected thereto, as isbest shown in FIGURE 2, which is located directly opposite from theabutment or yoke 43 provided on the outboard motor 14. No directconnection is provided between the rack 40 and yoke 43, therebypermitting the outboard motor 14 to pivot relative to the boat 10 whenit encounters certain obstructions such as logs or the like which werenot anticipated by the operator of the boat.

A flexible and expandible boot 44 is located around the outer end of thehousing 22 for enclosing the housing and the rack 46. When the rack 40is moved to the left as viewed in FIGURE 2, the boot 44 expands so as tokeep the rack 40 and housing 22 enclosed and free from Water. Theflexible boot 44 provides a fluid-tight seal for preventing water fromentering the housing 22. An annular sealing disk 41 is provided on theouter wall of the transom 12 for preventing water from entering theinterior of the boat 10 through the opening provided in the transom 12.An annular gasket 45 is provided between the inner wall of the transom1'2 and the flange 19.

On the right end of the rack 49, as viewed in FIGURE 2, there isprovided a recess 48. As the rack 40 moves to the left to an extendedlift position, means are provided for terminating the movement of therack 40. The means include an electrically operated interruptor '49which inculdes a conventional limit switch and a spring urged ball 50which is adapted to be received in the recess 48 provided in the rack40. The interruptor 49 is appropriately connected to the plate 17 bybolts 54. The rack 40 moves to the left until the recess 48 is directlyopposite the ball 50, at which time the limit switch is actuated toterminate the motion of the rack 40. It should be understood that othermeans may be utilized for terminating the motion of the rack 40.

In operation, when it is required to raise the outboard motor 14 fromthe position shown in FIGURE 1, the remote control means provided in thebow of the boat is actuated, thereby energizing the motor 28 in order torotate the worm 32 which in turn rotates the Worm gear 34. This resultsin rotation of the pinion 38 which is in turn adapted to move the rack40 to the left through an arcuate path, as viewed in FIGURE 2, so as tomove the bumper 39 against the yoke 43 and pivot the outboard motor 14about the pivot connection 13. When the rack 40 has been extended, thelimit switch is actuated so 'as to terminate the movement of the rack40.

When it is required to lower the outboard motor 14, the remote controlmeans is actuated, thereby rotating the motor 28 in the oppositedirection resulting first in applying a force .to the rack 40 so as tocam the ball 50 out of the recess 4-8 and then moving the rack 40 to theright through an arcuate path to the position shown in FIGURE 2. Theboot 44 contacts according to the movement of the rack 40.

The drawing and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved elevator for outboard motor in such full, clear, conciseand exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practicethe invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is my invention is:

1. In combination, a boat, an outboard motor at the stern of said boat,a pivot mounting having a horizontal axis between said outboard motorand boat, a power lift mechanism for pivoting said outboard motor in avertical plane about said horizontal axis, said lift mechanism beingmounted on the transom of said boat independently of the outboard motorand including a hollow housing connected to the inner wall of thetransom, a movable rack and pinion in said housing, said pinion being inmesh with said rack, said rack being adapted to be moved through anarcuate path in a vertical plane extending lengthwise of said boat, oneend of said rack extending through an opening provided in said transom,a bumper on said one end of the rack directly opposite the outboardmotor, a drive motor, a drive connection between said drive motor andsaid pinion, and remote control means in the bow of said boat forenergizing said drive motor to move said rack through said arcuate pathto an extended position, thereby urging the bumper against the outboardmotor and pivoting said outboard motor about the horizontal axis of saidpivot mounting with respect to said boat.

2. A tilting device for boat transom mounted outboard engines comprisingan engine mounting support adapted for engagement to said boat transom,an outboard engine, pivotal means for securing said engine to saidsupport whereby the engine may be moved to alternate tilted positionswith respect to said boat transom and support, an engine tiltingmechanism for said engine, which is mounted on the transom independentlyof the engine and said support, said mechanism comprising a shaft, aworm gear on said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm gear, anelongated rack of arcuate configuration movable through an openingprovided in the transom and in a vertical plane extending lengthwise ofthe boat, said rack having a plurality of teeth and an end directlyopposite from the engine for moving the engine upon actuation of therack, a pinion on said shaft in mesh with the teeth of said rack, adrive motor connected to said worm, and control means for energizingsaid drive motor to drive said worm, worm gear and pinion and efiectmovement of said rack in said vertical plane, thereby moving said engineto an alternate tilted position with respect to said support and to thetransom of the boat.

3, A tilting device defined in claim 2 wherein means are provided forholding said rack after said rack has been moved to a positioncorresponding to the last mentioned tilted position of the engine. a

4. A tilting device defined in claim 3 wherein said means iselectrically actuated. a

5. A tilting device for boat transom mounted outboard engines comprisingan engine mounting support adapted for engagement to said boat transom,an outboard engine, pivotal means for securing said engine to saidsupport whereby the engine may be moved to a tilted position withrespect to said boat transom and support, an engine tilting mechanismfor said engine which is mounted on the transom independently of theengine and said support, said mechanism comprising a shaft, a worm gearon said shaft, a worm in mesh with said Worm gear, an elongated toothedrack of arcuate configuration, a pinion on said shaft in mesh with theteeth of said rack, said rack having one end extending through anopening provided in the transom and being movable in a vertical planeextending lengthwise of the boat, a bumper on said one end of the rackopposite the engine for moving the engine upon actuation of the rack, areversible drive motor connected to said worm, and control means forenergizing said drive motor to drive said worm, Worm gear and pinion andeifect movement of said rack through an arcuate path in said verticalplane thereby raising or lowering said engine to or from an alternatetilted position respectively with respect to said support and to thetransom of the boat, depending on the direction in which said drivemotor is energized.

o 6. A tilting device for boat transom mounted outboard enginescomprising an engine mounting support adapted for engagement to saidboat transom, an outboard engine, pivotal means for securing said engineto said support whereby the engine may be moved to a tilted positionwith respect to said boat transom and support, an engine tiltingmechanism for said engine which is mounted on the transom independentlyof the engine and said support, said mechanism comprising a shaft, aworm gear on said shaft,a worm in mesh with said worm gear, an elongatedtoothed rack of arcuate configuration, a pinion on said shaft in meshwith the teeth of said rack, said rack having one end extending throughan opening provided in the transom and being movable in'a vertical planeextending lengthwise of the boat, a bumper on said one end of the rackopposite the engine for moving the engine upon actuation of the rack, alocking recess at the other end of said rack, a reversible drive motorconnected to said worm, control means for energizing said drive motor todrive said worm, worm gear and pinion and efiect movement of said rackthrough an arcuate path in said vertical plane thereby raising orlowering said engine to or from an alternate tilted positionrespectively with respect to said support and to .the transom of theboat, depending on the direction in which said drive motor is energized,and' locking means for engaging the recess in said rack for holding therack in :a position 7 corresponding to the tilted position of theengine.

7. A tilting device defined in claim 6 wherein said locking means iselectrically actuated and includes a plunger controlled ball which isreceived in said recess. 8. A tilting device defined in claim 6 whereinan expansible boot is connected to the out-side wall of the tran som forenclosing said one end of the rack and the opening in the transom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,747,819 Aldrich May 29, 1956 2,893,342 Langford July 7, 1959 2,972,328Hodgson Feb. 21, 1961

1. IN COMBINATION, A BOAT, AN OUTBOARD MOTOR AT THE STERN OF SAID BOAT,A PIVOT MOUNTING HAVING A HORIZONTAL AXIS BETWEEN SAID OUTBOARD MOTORAND BOAT, A POWER LIFT MECHANISM FOR PIVOTING SAID OUTBOARD MOTOR IN AVERTICAL PLANE ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID LIFT MECHANISM BEINGMOUNTED ON THE TRANSOM OF SAID BOAT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OUTBOARD MOTORAND INCLUDING A HOLLOW HOUSING CONNECTED TO THE INNER WALL OF THETRANSOM, A MOVABLE RACK AN PINION IN SAID HOUSING, SAID PINION BEING INMESH WITH SAID RACK, SAID RACK BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOVED THROUGH ANARCUATE PATH IN A VERTICAL PLANE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID BOAT, ONEEND OF SAID RACK EXTENDING THROUGH AN OPENING PROVIDED IN SAID TRANSOM,A BUMPER ON SAID ONE END OF THE TRACK DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE OUTBOARDMOTOR, A DRIVE MOTOR, A DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID DRIVE MOTOR ANDSAID PINION, AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS IN THE BOW OF SAID BOAT FORENERGIZING SAID DRIVE MOTOR TO MOVE SAID RACK THROUGH SAID ARCUATE PATHTO AN EXTENDED POSITION, THEREBY URGING THE BUMBER AGAINST THE OUTBOARDMOTOR AND PIVOTING SAID OUTBOARD MOTOR ABOUT THE HORIZONTAL AXIS OF SAIDPIVOT MOUNTING WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOAT.